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Highway 7 businesses burglarized

By MARY ELIADES

Staff writer

Melinda’s Coffee Corner and Beckwith Visions Florist, both located on North Highway 7, were hit by burglars recently, an event that, according to florist shop owner Rebecca Beckwith, said happens all too often.

“This has happened so many times that the sheriff’s office doesn’t usually even investigate any more,” said Beckwith.

This time around, burglars forced open a back door to the business, but were “very courteous” and locked it on the way out, Beckwith said. They stole a laptop and a child’s bicycle (which was later found), but left the few bills in the register, she said.

Beckwith said that the storage unit for the business has been broken into many times, and some “meth lab decorators” even stole fresh Christmas greenery in a box outside the back door while the owner was inside working.

Beckwith encourages all business owners in the area to make sure they have insurance, because “none of the items will ever be recovered.”

Melinda Bickford, owner of Melinda’s Coffee Corner, said that the burglars attempted to enter through the back door, but ended up jimmying a window to get in. Cash was stolen, but nothing in the shop (other than the door and window) was destroyed, she said. There was no alarm system in place at the time, but the owner said “there is now!”

On the same night, Mercy Clinic and Sears were also reportedly burglarized. Beckwith said that it’s a common occurrence in the area, with “crack heads” constantly looking for quick cash.